Demoiselle crane is the smallest of the cranes, its height is about 90 cm, wing length is about 50 cm, body weight is 2-3 kg. The plumage of the body is bluish-gray, the head and neck are black, behind the eyes there are long tufts of white feathers. The bald patch on the head, characteristic of cranes, is absent. The cornea of the eyes is reddish-orange.
Demoiselle cranes are monogamous, their pairs are preserved for life. Their loyalty to each other became almost legendary, they were even called ‘people in bird feathers’. The modern scientific name of Demoiselle in Greek means ‘humanoid’. However, if there are no offspring in the crane family, the couple separates. This happens very rarely.
The formation of a pair is accompanied by certain rituals. When courting, the cranes make special sounds, while their heads are thrown back so that the beak is directed vertically upward. Such singing as a duet can last a few seconds, or maybe more than a minute. Singing is usually accompanied by ‘dancing’, when Demoiselles jump in front of each other, toss bunches of grass or sticks, flap their wings. All couples nesting nearby usually gather for dancing. The birds form a large circle. Demoiselle’s voice is a ringing churler, more melodic than that of the gray crane.
The Demoiselles are migratory birds, they spend winter in northeast Africa and on the Indian subcontinent.
Demoiselle cranes are monogamous, their pairs are preserved for life. Their loyalty to each other became almost legendary, they were even called ‘people in bird feathers’. The modern scientific name of Demoiselle in Greek means ‘humanoid’. However, if there are no offspring in the crane family, the couple separates. This happens very rarely.
The formation of a pair is accompanied by certain rituals. When courting, the cranes make special sounds, while their heads are thrown back so that the beak is directed vertically upward. Such singing as a duet can last a few seconds, or maybe more than a minute. Singing is usually accompanied by ‘dancing’, when Demoiselles jump in front of each other, toss bunches of grass or sticks, flap their wings. All couples nesting nearby usually gather for dancing. The birds form a large circle. Demoiselle’s voice is a ringing churler, more melodic than that of the gray crane.
The Demoiselles are migratory birds, they spend winter in northeast Africa and on the Indian subcontinent.
They fly relatively low above the ground and, only crossing the Himalayas, for a short time rise to an altitude of 5000-8000 m. In flight, the cranes periodically change places and make loud trumpet sounds. It is by the “kurlykanie” that people find a flying flock of cranes.
Demoiselles fly, stretching out their head and legs, and either slowly and evenly flap their wings, or smoothly soar in the air. On wintering grounds, they often keep in common flocks with gray cranes, choosing shallow waters or flat river islands for spending the night. During the day they fly to feed on the harvested fields of wheat, millet and other grain crops.
Demoiselles return to their nesting sites in spring in small groups of only 4–10 birds. Birds arrange a nest in the form of a simple hole in the ground; it is often surrounded by a small number of grass stalks and pebbles.
Demoiselles fly, stretching out their head and legs, and either slowly and evenly flap their wings, or smoothly soar in the air. On wintering grounds, they often keep in common flocks with gray cranes, choosing shallow waters or flat river islands for spending the night. During the day they fly to feed on the harvested fields of wheat, millet and other grain crops.
Demoiselles return to their nesting sites in spring in small groups of only 4–10 birds. Birds arrange a nest in the form of a simple hole in the ground; it is often surrounded by a small number of grass stalks and pebbles.
